Computing machine



Nov. 17, 1936.

L. E. LENTZ 2,061,362

COMPUTING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1934 Nov. 17, '1936. L E, LENTZ Y 2,061,362

' COMPUTING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mmmm Nov. 17, 1936. L. E. I ENTz COMPUTING MACHINE Filed MarchA 16, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IZIIUUULILILILI Nov..l7, 1936la 1 E. LEN-rz 2,061,362

COMPUTING MACHINE Filed March 16, 1954 4 sheets-shea 4 0 HM@ Y f W /m/fnfar:

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 lUNITED STATES COMPUTING MACHINE Lawrence-E. Lentz, New York, N. Y., assignor-to Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Claims.

This invention relates to improved zero or space-key mechanism for adding machines of the class exemplified in Sundstrand Patent No. 1,583,102, issued May 4, 1926, in which ten digitkeys are operable to set indexing mechanism preparatory to printing and adding the indexed amount.

A feature of the invention resides in providing novel means whereby operation of any one of a plurality of multiple-zero keys effects automatic cycling of the machine in sequence to the setting of the zero-stops and the jumping of the carriage. Therefore, the operator need not do anything further after depressing the multiple-zero key. Thus, for indexing and computing or printing an amount terminating in a succession of zeros, all the operator needs to do is to touch the index-keys forthe amount-digits preceding said zeros, and then to' touch the appropriate multiple-zero key, upon the down stroke of which, the required number of zeros will be indexed; and upon the up stroke, the carriage will jump the required number of spaces, and the machine-motor will finally be connected to automatically cycle the machine to cause the printing and adding of the number.

There may also be provided a single-zero key connected to cycle the machine in Iorder that when an amount terminates in a vsingle zero, the indexing of said single final zero will also cycle the machine, to thereby dispense with an otherwise necessary operation of the usual cycling key. In thisway, the ordinary zero-key, included in the complement of digit-keys, may be operated for indexing a`zero at any place between significant digits of an amount, and any of the motor-tripping zero-keys may be operated at the conclusion of indexing an amount terminating in one or more zeros. s

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the improved zero-key mechanism and related parts of the Sundstrand machine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan View showing the step-by-step feeding carriagereleased from its escapement and arrested by one of the supple-- mental stops as a result of operation of a multiple-zero key.

v Figure 3 is a detail view of a rack and restorer for the supplemental carriage-stops.

Figure 4 is a top plan View of the improved zero-key mechanism and related parts of the Sundstrand machine.

Application March 16, 1934, Serial No. 715,820 l (Cl. 23S-60) Figure 5 is a side view diagram of the Sundstrand cycling mechanism.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the partial restoration of the cycletripping means to prevent repetition of the cycle 5 which follows operation of one of the new zerokeys.

Figure 7 is a side elevation `View ofthe improved zero-key mechanism and related parts, some of which are shown in section for clearness. 10

Figure 8 is a plan view diagram showing how the release of the step-by-step feeding carriage, following operation of one of the new zero-keys, causes operation of means for starting a cycle of the machine. 15

Figure 9 is a plan view diagram illustrating restoration of the zero-key-operated cycle-tripping parts by the return of the carriage at the end of the machine-cycle, and also illustrating the manner of restoring the supplemental carriage-stops.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating the restoration to normal positions of an escapement-rack for the carriage and a zero-keyoperated rack-releasing member just prior to the end of a cycle.

The invention is shown applied to a Sundstrand adding machine in which the usual amount-indexing mechanism includes a singleset of ten digit-keys I5, (Figs. 4 and 7), mounted on keystems I6. Depression of any digit-key I5 causes its stem I6 to rock a bell-crank I1 connected by a link IB and a bell-crank I9 to the forward end of a stop-setting rod 20 slidably guided at its rearward end in a post 22. The bell-cranks I9 associated with the several digit-keys I5 are pivoted on a common vertical fulcrum-rod 23 and the stop-setting rods 20 are arranged in a single vertical column.

The rearward thrust of any stop-setting rod 2D effected by depression of the corresponding digit-key I5 in indexing an'amount sets a corresponding digit-stop 24 in one of several vertical columns of a nest or field of said stops 24, the indexing starting with the rst column of stops from the left and progressing column by column toward the right at successive operations of the digit-keys I5. For the latter purpose, the post 22, which guides the rear ends of the stop-setting rods 2li, is part of a traveling frame 25 swingable about a pivot 26, so that the rear ends of the single column of stop-setting rods 20 may traverse the several columns of stops 24. ASuch traverse is effected step by step by means of an escapement-rack 21 pivoted at a xed point 28 of the machine-framework and engaging a corner CIK of the post 22, which thus acts as a holding dog, one or another of the teeth of said rack 21 being normally caughtover said corner and the rack being yieldably held against the post 22 by a spring 29. The traveling frame 25 which carries the post 22 is constantly urged in clockwise direction of Figure 1, by a spring 30, and is restrained. as will be evident from Figure l, by the escapement-rack 21. r

For operation .of 'the escapement-devices at operation of any digit-key I5, the corresponding bell-crank I9 operates a universal bar 32 swingable by means of end arms 33 about the axis of fulcrum-rod 23 of the bell-cranks I9. The upper arm 33 is part of abell-crank to which is connected a thrust-rod 35, also guided at its rear end in the post 22, to engage whatever toothedge 36 of the escapement-rack is caught over the corner of the post 22. Thus, a rearward thrust of the escapement-actuating rod 35, attending operation-ofany digit-key I5 to set a stop 24,'causes the escapement-rack 21 to be displaced from the dog or post 22 at the down stroke of the key, whereupon the traveling frame 25, under the pull of spring 30, swings slightly clockwise until the rear end of the rearwardlythrust rod 35 forming another dog. is caught by the released tooth of the escapement-rack. This slight swing of the frame 25 is suficient to bring the corner of the post 22 past the released racktooth, but does not displace the column of stopsetting rods 20 enough to prevent the operated rod from setting the digit-stop 24 in the column corresponding to the escaped tooth of the rack 21.

On the up stroke of the operated key I5, the corresponding stop-setting rod 20 is withdrawn and the rod or dog 35 is also withdrawn within the post 22, so that the frame 25 resumes its swinging motion to the right until the post 22 is caught by the next tooth of the escapement-rack, thereby aligning the column of stop-setting rods 20 with the next column o1' stops 24. Thus, at succeeding operations of the digit-keys I5 to index an amount, the digits oi said amount are caused to be set up by having corresponding stops i 24 projected rearwardly in consecutive columns. beginning with the rst column at the lei't.fof the nest or ield of stops 24. 'I'he stops 24 are guided for endwise movement'in a stationary frame 3I.

'I'he rearwardly-set digit-stops 24 act as stops for a set of reciprocatory denominational bars 38, each bar having a rack 39 to actuate a corresponding computing pinion 40, and also having a set of digit-types 4I operable by the usual Sundstrand type-striker 42 to print against a platen 43. 'Ihe denominational bars 38 are guided for up-and-down movement eilected by the usual cycling mechanism, which includes individual partly-shown arms 44 operative to raise and lower the bars during a machine-cycle which follows the indexing of an amount by means of the digit-keys I5.` In the Sundstrand machine, there is no digit-stop 24 for the digit 9, and therefore, the 9 digit-key I5 works only to actuate the universal bar 32 to advance the carriage a necessary step. A denomination-bar 38 indexed for "9 rises, during the cycle, to the limit of its movement to print or accumulate 9".

The indexing of an amount begins always at the first column from the left of the nestor field of digit-stops 24. Before the first key is struck, the whole nest or field of digit-stops 24 is in such position relatively to the denomination-bars 38 that, as indicated in Figure 4, said rst column oi' stops 24 is about one denomination space to the right of the co-operating part 48 of the bar 36 of lowest denomination.

In the Sundstrand machine, the above-described escapement-controlled movements of the frame 25 are employed to eifect the relative. shifts between the nest or field of digit-stops 24 and the denomination-bars 38, and to this end, the Sundstrand machine employs means including a carriage slide 46 coupled to the frame 25 by a pin-and-slot connection, as at 41, Figures 1, '7 and 9, said. carriage slide 46 being guided on a cross-rod 45 `for endwise movement. Said carriage slide 46 carries a post 52 whose upper end runs in a trackway formed in a stationary plate 53, Figure 7, whereby said carriage slide 46 is guided and kept from turning about said crossrod 45. The transversely-guided carriage slide 46 serves to shift the usual transversely shift? able vertical extension rods 48 of the denomination-bars 38. Said vertical extension rods 48- form the aforementioned denomination-bar parts co-operating with the digit-stops 24. In order to be/fcapable of such eld stop-traversing movement, each rod 48 is connected to its denomination-bar 38 by an arm 43 hinged to the denomination-bar, as in Figure 7. 'I'he vertical extension rods 48 are slidably guided in the carriageslide 46 for up-and-down movements, corresponding to the up-and-down movements of the denomination-bars 38, and each extension rod 48 is connected to its arm 49 at 5I by the usual sliding connection, whereby the arm 43 may swing arcuately, while the extension rod moves transversely in a straight line. At each operation of a digit key I5, the carriage slide 46 and its extension rods 48 are positioned one denominational step to the right relatively to the groups of columns of digit stops 24. so that the indexed amount may be co-ordinated with the denominational rack bars 38 in accordance with the number of places in the indexed amount.

As shown in said Sundstrand Patent No. 1,583,102, a rock-shaft 56 is operable to drive cooperating mechanism (not shown; herein) to cycle the machine. For power operation of said shaft 56, a power-drive, such as shown in Sundstrand Patent No. 1,925,735, issued September 5, 1933, may be employed, and is tripable by a cycling key 51, Figures 4 and 5.

When the cycling key 51.1s depressed, it rocks a crank-rod 58 operative through linkage, including parts 59, 60 and 6I, to withdraw a pin 63 to release a spring-pressed clutch-dog 64. The clutch-dog 64 is mounted-on a member 65 fastened to a crank-shaft 66 normally disconnected from a toothed driver 61 geared, as indicated in Figure 5, to an electric motor 68. 'I'he clutchdog 64, when released, engages the toothed driver 6-1, and at the same time releases a switch-lever 18 to permit electric-circuit contacts'1I to close for starting the normally silent motor 68. The crank-shaft 66 thereupon makes one revolution, at the end of which the clutch-dog 64 is intercepted by the returned pin 63, and is thereby caused to be withdrawn from the driver 61 in well-known manner. The clutch-dog is also operative at the end oi' said revolution to lcam the switch-lever 10 to reopen the switch-contacts 1I to silence the motor. By the one revolution of the crank-shaft 66, the cycling rock-shaft 56 is rocked forward and then back through connections including an arm. 12 fastened to said rockshaft 56.and a -link 13 which connects a crank 14 of the crank-shaft to. a. plate-like extension 15 of the rock-shaft arm 12.

The traveling indexing frame 25 rocks about its pivot 91 in clockwise direction (Fig. 4) as the numeral keys, upon operation, to successively trip the escapement lever 21, to position the vertical column of stop pins 28 opposite successive vertical columns of stops 24, from left to right.

The leftwardly projecting arm` of the indexing frame has a pin and slot connection 88 with the forward end of a frame-restoring slide 19 suitably connected for sliding movement to one wall of a stationary upright plate |62. This restoring slide 19 is drawn rearwardly incident to the step-by-step rotation of the indexing frame 25 in clockwise direction.-

A roll 18 on the forward end of the frame restoring slide 19 is adapted to beV acted upon by a restoring push-rod 11, the forward end of which normally lies in its advanced position.

Thisv restoring push-rod is actuated from the crank shaft 56, as explained in patent to Sundstrand, 1,198,487, issued September 19, 1916, and upon the forward rocking of the crank shaft 56, the push-rod is drawn rearwardly throughout its full travel which exceeds, in extent, the possible rearward travel of the roller stud 18 on the restoring slide 19, so that the forward end of the push-rod 11 lies in rear of the stud. The rockshaft 56, on its return stroke, advances the pushrod 11 to its normal position, and the push-rod,

' on such return, contacts the stud 18 to advance the restoring slide 19 to its home position. Thus,

frame 25 and the thereto coupled shiftcarriage slide 46 for the laterally shiftable denomination-bar-extension rods 48 will be restored tovr their normal or Figure 4 positions during the last part of the machine-cycle; and incidentally the post 52 of said carriage slide 46 will cam to restored positions all the digit-stops 24 that were set prior to the cycle.

The .stem 82 of a repeat-key 8| carries a stud 83 which, by setting said key to depressed position, prevents the forward portion of the pushrod 11 fromrising, thereby rendering said pushrod inoperative to restore the carriage 25, 46 and the parts controlled thereby during the cycle. The usual operation of said push-rod 11 and the disabling thereof by the repeat-key 8| are fully set forth in Sundstrand Reissue Patent No.

` 14,237, of December 26, 1916.

Referring now to the lnovel multiple-zero-key mechanism, a file of multiple-zero keys 84 is provided, and is preferably disposed between -the cycling key 51 and the group of digit-keys I5, as in Figure 4. For illustration, six of said zerokeys 84 are shown. Each zero-key 84 is mounted on a stem 85 guided for endwise depression in slots 86 of an upper plate 8,1 of the keyboard and in similar slots of an angle-bar 88 mounted below said keyboard-plate 81, as indicated in Figures 1, 4 and 7. For limiting its up-and-down movement, each zero-key stem 85 has stop-lugs 89.

' As indicated in Figures 4 and '1, the foremost .zero-key 84 of the file is for a single 0. The next key 84 is for 00, and so on, the rearmost k-ey 84 being for six zeros. or O0-0000.

In order that depression of any zero-key 84 may set such number of zero-stops as corresponds to the number of zeros which the key represents, the following mechanism may be provided. For each zero-key, there is pivoted to the vertical ange of the key-guiding angle-bar 88 a corresponding bell-crank lever 98, Figures 1 and 7,

ting an appropriate number of Zero-stops, whichstops will hereinafter be designated as 24.

There is a similar linkage terminating at one end in a Zero-stop-setting thrust bar 95 for every zero-key 84, and the several bars 95 may be banked, one above the other, as indicated in Figures 1 and 7. The forward end of each thrust ber 95 is pivoted to a corresponding arm of its lever 94, as at 91. rIhe several levers 94 are also banked one above the other, and are pivoted upon a commen fulcrum-stud 98, Figure 1, for individual movement. Said stud 98 may be mounted upon a plate 99 of the machine-frame, said plate also carrying the pivot 26 for the step-by-step feeding frame 25, and also carrying the fulcrumrod 23 for the several digit-indexing bell-cranks |9. Each zero-step-setting bar 95 has at its rear end, a transverse edge 95a corresponding in Alength to the number of zero-stops 24(l which the bar 95 is required to set simultaneously upon operation of its zero-key. Figure 1 clearly indicates the different lengths of the edges 95a of the several zero-stop-setting bars 95, the bar with the longest edge, that is, the one for the 000000 key being the uppermost one of the bank of bars 95, the bar for the 0 key having the shortest edge 95a and being the lowermost one.

It is required that the zero-stop-setting edges 95a move collectively with the step-by-step feeding movements of the frame 25, since, in any digit-indexing position of said frame 25, all the edges 95a must begin at and include the zerostop 24 in that. column of the nest or field of stops 24 to which the column of stop-setting thrust-rod 28 points. For this purpose, said frame may have fastened thereto at IUI, Figure 7, a vertical plate |82 which mounts the post 22 of said frame, as seen in Figure 1, and which also affords a laterally-extending ear |83 carrying a downwardly-projecting headed stud |04. which, for guiding and supporting the rear ends of the thrust bars 95, passes throughy aslot |85 in each bar. Spacers |86, Figure '1, serve to slightly separate the rear ends of the thrust bars 95, one from the other. It will be seen no w that in the step-by-step movements-of the carriage 25, the thrust bars 95 swing about their pivots 91 on the levers 94V, and that the latter are operative in any position of the group of thrust bars 95 to actuate said thrust bars 95 individually under control of the zero-keys 84.

In order that a zero-stop 24 may be set rearwardly by any one of thel zero-key-operated thrust bars 95, each stop is formed, as indicated in Figures 1 and '1, to present an up-and-down extending face |81. A tongue |88 may extend rearwardly from the lower face-formingpart of the stop 24, and serves to keep said face-form' ing part from being cockedvsidewise by the thrust 3|. Like the usual digit-stops, each zero-stop 24 has a detent-spring H| to detain the stop in its normal, and its rearwardly-set positions determined by shoulders H2 on the stop, as indicated in Figure '1. In order that the frame or carriage 25, 46 may be caused to advance to an extent proportionate to the number of zero-stops 24 set by operation of one of the multiple-zero keys 84, to thereby bring the denomination-barextension rods 48, into proper denominational co-ordination with the field o1 stops as indexed, the following mechanism is provided. Each zero-stop-setting thrust bar 95 has at its rear end a downwardly-extending tongue H3, the tongues of the several thrust bars 95 being transversely spaced similarly to the spacing 0I a transverse row of stops H4, one i'or each column of v digit-stops 24. Depending on the position oi' the frame 25, and on which one of the zero-keyoperated thrust bars 95 is actuated, the actuated thrust bar 95, by means of its tongue H3, will set the proper stop H4 for arresting the carriage 25, 46 when the latter is released from the control of the escapement-rack 21 by operation of a zero-key, as will presently be described. Each carriage-stop |4,may have a shoulder H5 engageable by the lower end of any tongue H3 i'or projecting said stop ||4 rearwardly. A rearwardly-projected carriage-stop H4 may arrest the carriage-structure, which, it will be understood, includes the carriage slide 46, by intercepting a lug H6 of said carriage slide 46. These carriage stops H4 may be conveniently supported for back and forth sliding movement,

in parallel grooves or seats |30 (Fig. 3) formedA transversely of a plate |29, secured by fastenlngs |28 (Figs. 1, 4, 8 and 9) to the under face of a control bar |21, extending transversely across the machine just beneath the line of depending stopsetting tongues H3 of the zero-stop setting thrust bars 95.

The shoulders H5 at the rear ends of the carriage stops, I4 project upwardly above the plane of the control bar |21 to lie in the paths of the tongues l I3 on the thrust bars.

The front ends of the carriage stops H4 extend forwardly of the forward edge of their supporting plate |29 and carry depending lugs |52 beveled at their lower ends to co-act with spring detents |53 which operate to detain the carriage stops H4 in their eliective or ineffective positions.

For releasing the carriage-structure from the escapement-rack 21, after the zero-stops 24 and a carriage-stop I4 have been set by operation of a zero-key, the following-mechanism may be provided. Each zero-stop-setting thrust bar may have a laterally-extending ear H1, whereby, when the thrust bar 95 is projected rearwardly, said bar may rock an escapement-disabling lever H8, Figures l and 7. This escapement disabling lever H8 is pivoted to the frame-plate |02 at H9, and is articulated at its upper end to the front end of an escapement-disabling finger |20, whosel rear end is slidably guided in a slot |2| o1" the post 22 and normally overlies the escapement rack 21 or a flange |24 formed thereon.

A spring |23 yleldably maintains the escapement-disabling lever H8 and its escapementdisabling finger |20 in normal position. The rear end of the nger |20 normally extends far enough beyond the flange 24, so that, in the ordinary displacement of the escapement-rack 21 by the dog or rod 35 during operation of the digit-keys l5, the rear end oi' the linger |20 does not fall in front of said ange |24.

In the down stroke of any multiple-zero key 84, the accompanying rearward thrust of the corresponding zero-stop-setting bar 95 rotates the escapement-disabling lever H6 to draw the escapement-disabling ringer |20 forwardly, so that its rear end falls by gravity in front of the ange 24 of the escapement-rack 21. Said rearward thrust of the bar 95, it will be remembered, is also eiective to set the appropriate number of lzero-stops 24 and an appropriate carriagearresting stop |4. Upon return of the depressed zero-key 84 and the accompanying recession ol' its stop-setting thrust bar 95, the spring |23, acting on the escapement-disabling lever H8, will cause the latter to return to its normal position and thereby thrust the escapement-disabllng ringer |20 rearwardly, whereby the dropped rear end of said finger |20 will push the escapementrack 21 rearwardly by acting against the ange |24, as indicated in Figure 2, to release the carriage-structure, including the frame 25 and carriage-slide 46, which thereupon, under the inuence of the spring 30, will move to the right, as indicated in Figure 2, until arrested by the rearwardly-projected carriage-stop H4.

Following the operation o1' a multiple-zero key 84 and the resultant setting of corresponding zerostops 24 and advance of the carriage-structure 25, 46, the machine may be cycled manually by the usual operating handle (not shown), or it may be cycled by power by pressing the cycling key 51.

It may be noted at this point that the Sundstrand machine has the usual plate |25, Figure 4, for opposing, during the cycle, the rise of those denominational bars 38 whose extension rods 48 have not, according tothe number of places in the amount indexed, been brought, by the advance of the carriage-structure, into the zone of the nest or field of digit-stops 24.

Since a zero-key 84 is the last key operated in the indexing of an amount ending in one or more zeros, the machine may be cycled automatically in immediate sequence to the advance of the carriage-structure 25, 46, resulting from the operation of said zero-key and the concomitant setting of one or more zero-stops 24. For this purpose, the following mechanism may be provided.

The transversely extending control bar |21, overlying the carriage-stops H4, is guided for transverse movement, preferably parallel to the movement of the carriage-slide. of the carriage-structure in side-members |3|, |32 of the digit-stop frame 3|, and may have projections, such as screws |34, coacting with the side-member |3|, to determinetwo positions of said control bar |21, one position being the normal or Figure 4 position, in which the control bar is yieldably maintained by a spring |35.

Upon the rearward projection of a carriage-stop H4 and the release oi the carriage-structure 25, 46, resulting from operation of a zero-key 24, the control bar |21 will be displaced rightwardly to the Figure 8 position, as a result of the contact of the released carriage-structure with the projected carriage stop H4. Near the end oi' lts movement to the right, the carriage abutment H6 strikes the projected stop I4 and drives the same, together with the control bar |21 and rack |29, rightwardly until the left hand screw or stop |34 infringes with the side-member |3| to arrest the carriage and the control bar.

The control bar |21, by reason of its rightward displacement, may serve as part of a cycle-tripping train arranged to act upon the part or link 59, Figure 5, of the Sundstrand cycle-tripping mechanism. Since, a set carriage-stop ||4, is itself displaced rightwardly with the bar |21 before the carriage is finally arrested, the parts are so arranged that the distance whichthe set stop I I4 is from the lug I I6, is less than the necessary full extent of carriage-advance, by the amount of the rightward displacement of the stop ||4.

Said Sundstrand link 59 may have a shoulder or collar |31 against which an arm |38 of an intermediate lever |39 may bear for displacing said link 59 endwise to trip the Sundstrand cycling mechanism when said intermediate lever |39 is operated. A spring |40 operable upon the intermediate lever |39 tends to rock the lever to displace said link 59, but the intermediate lever is normally restrained by a latch |4| pvoted to the lever at |42 and normally caught over a fixed stop |43, Figure 4. Said spring |40 may pull upon said stop-rod I4| in order to act upon the intermediate lever I39. At the left end of the control bar |21, there is pivoted a spring-pressed latchreleasing hook |45 having a stop-ear |46 abutting the edge of the control bar |21 to determine the normal position in which the latch-releasing hook is yieldably maintained by a spring |41. The latch-releasing hook |45 is arranged relatively to the forward end of the latch |4I, as shown ln Figure 4, so that rightward displacement of the control bar |21rwill disengage the latch I4| from the stop |43, whereupon, as `indicated in Figure 8, the spring |40 will operate to rotate the intermediate lever |39 to shift the trip-link 59 forwardly, as indicated by the arrow in Figure 8. By reason of the resulting release of the Sundstrand clutch-dog 64 and the closing of the motorcontacts 1 I, a machine-cycle will then commence, the spring |40, operating through the intermediate lever |39, to maintain the trip link in its operated position. In order that the cycle may not be repeated, it is necessary to permit the trip-link 59 to restore under the pull of its spring |49, inferior to the spring |40, after the forward displacement of the link has effected the release of the clutchdog 64 and the closing of the contacts 1|, it being understood that the restoration of said link 59 permits the pin 63 to return into position to terminate the cycle as hereinbefore described.

Therefore, after the clutch-dog 64 has passed the pin 63, the latter may be permitted to return' to its normal position by retracting the intermediate lever |39, and, to this end, the driving arm 12 of the cycling rock-shaft 56 may be utilized at the end of its forward stroke to restore the intermediate lever |39 by engaging an arm |44 ofthe latter, as indicated in Figure 6. Said intermediate lever |39 may swing about a stud |48 mounted on a bearing |49al for the rock-shaft 56.

When the lever |39 is restored by the driving arm 12, its latch |4| catches over the stop |43 again, as seen in Figure 6; and therefore, when said driving arm 12 in its return stroke, recedes from the arm |4 4 of said intermediate lever |39, the latter will be held latched to prevent it from initiating another machine-cycle.

1t is because the carriage-structure 25, 46 is not restreduntil the end of the cycle, as lwill presently be moresfully explained, that the'latch-releasing hook |45\on-th\e control bar |21 for disengaging the latch |41 fnrn'tsstcp |43 is provided', said hook being so arranged relativelyto said latch |4I as to permit the intermediate lever |39 to be restored by the driving arm 12 before the carriage-structure and said hook' |45 are moved leftward for restoration. This arrangement v'is as follows: Obviously, as the latch-releasing hook |45 travels with the control bar |21 on movement of the latter to the right, the hook draws with it the latch |4I, which rocks counter-clockwise on its pivot |42 relatively to the intermediate lever |39, until the latch disengages from its stop |43, whereupon the superior spring |40 rocks the 1intermediate lever |39 counter-clockwise to cause it to trip the motor clutch and complete the motor circuit, as described.

The intermediate lever |39, on such counterclockwise rotation, lowers the latch |4-I relatively to the bill of the releasing hook |45, which hook is prevented by its lug |46 .from following the latch. Also the stop |43, by contacting the edge of the disengaged latch |4| `(seeFig. 8) prevents the latch from swinging back into .line with the spring. The releasing hook |45 travels `far enough to the right to position its bill in the path of return of the lug |59 of the latch, so that the lug merely engages the outer beveled portion of the bill of the hook (see Fig. 8) as the driving arm 12 returns the intermediate lever |39 and latch |4| to their normal positions, the releasing hook As the shaulder of the latch |4| clears its stop l|43, the spring |40 snaps the shoulder of the latch over the stop, thereby causing the latch |4| to shift farther towards the free end of the releasing hook |45.

Such restoration of the intermediate lever |39 its latch occurs at about the completion of a half cycle, while the control bar |21 remains in its right-hand position to which it was shifted due `to the impact of the carriage slide 46, I6 against the set carriage stop I4.

As the driving arm 12 rocks the intermediate lever |39 and withdraws its forked end |38 from the collar |31, the inferior spring |49 restores the tripping link 59 to its normal position, to enable the disconnection of the clutch and the interruption of the motor circuit. Discontinuance of the motor drive at this point enables the usual adding machine return spring, tensioned during the forward stroke, to restore the parts to their normal positions. Furthermore, the provision of the yielding, latch-releasing hook |45 also permits the intermediate lever |39 to be restored for preventing repetition of the cycle when the repeat-key 8| is set, it being remembered that the setting of said repeat-key 8| preventsthe restoration of the carriage-structure 25, 46 during a cycle.

In the ordinary operation of the machine, that is, when the repeat-key 0| has not been set, the carriage-structure 25, 46 is restored by means of the push-rod 11 at the end of the cycle, as hereinbefore explained.

As heretofore explained, the carriage-slide 46 with its vertical rods 48, and the traveling frame 25 with its post 22 andl thrust-rods 20, are restored to their normal left-hand positions during the last half cycle of operation of the machine, through the thrust imparted by the restoring link 11, (Fig. 4), to the projecting stud 18 and its ren storing slide 19 connected with the traveling frame 25.

The restoring link 11 imparts sufcient tnrust to the carriage-slide, traveling frame and post 22 to overthrow the parts past their normal positions, the Nforward end of the link 11 then disengaging itself from the roller stud 13 and dropping out of its path of movement rearwardly, so that the escapement feed spring 30 may restore the parts yielding to permit the upward travel of the latch.

y to the night until the corner edge of the post n is arrested by the face of the first tooth 21'* (Fig. 10).

The withdrawal of the carriage-slide 40 from contact with the projected carriage-stop ||4 against which it has been pressed by the strong spring 30 and frame 25, enables the weaker spring |35 to restore the control bar |21, supporting plate |29 and row of carriage-stops ||4 to their normal positions determined by the right-hand stop |34.

The control bar |21, on such return, projects its latch-releasing hook |45 past the farther edge of the bar |59 of the previously restored latch |4 whereupon the spring |41 snaps the bill of the releasing hook over the ear preparatory to a subsequent operation of theparts. There is thus provided an excess of leftward carriage-restoring movement represented by the space |50, Figure 10, separating the post 22 from the first escapementtooth 21. This excess carriage-structure movement may be utilized' for the purpose of the invention as follows.

The rack-displacing finger |20, which, it will be remembered, was caused to drop in front of the flange 24 of the escapemeht-rack 21 upon depression of any of the zero keys 04 and to then displace the escapement rack upon release of the depressed zero key, to release the carriage-structure, will, by said excess restoration of the carriage-structure, escape the left end of said ange |24, thereby permitting the es capement-rack 21, under the pull of its spring 29, to restore to operative position, as in Figure 10. Upon the advance of the carriage-structure, from its overthrown position to its normal starting position, under the pull of its spring 30, the rear end of the rack-displacing finger |20 will ride up an incline |24n at the left end of the flange |24, and come to reist on the top edge of said ange, as in Figure The excess restoring movement of the carriagestructure 25, 48 during a cycle may also be employed to restore whichever carriage-stop ||4 was set rearwardly. To this end, a carriage stop-restoring plate |I, (Figs. 3, 4, and 9) is mounted facewise against the bottom of the grooved plate |29, in which the carriage-stops 4 play, so that a frontY edge of said plate I 5| opposes the rear faces of the downwardly-projecting tongues |52 of the several carriage-stops ||4. Said plate |5| is normally in position wherein its said front edge is spaced rearwardly from the rear faces of said tongues |52, as indicated in Figure 4, whereby the stops ||4 are projectablemearwardly without hindrance from said restoring plate |5I. Y

As indicated in Figure 3, the stop-restoring Plate |5| has a rearwardly-extending tab |54, an abrupt edge of which lies in the return path of the lug ||9 of the carriage-slide 45 of the carnage-structure, so that, during the excess restoring movement of the latter, the restoring plate |5| will be displaced endwise relatively to the row of carriage-stops ||4, assuming that the latter have been restored to their normal left-hand positions by the spring |35 on the control bar |21. This endwise displacement'of vthe stop-restoring plate 5| is also utilized to cause forward displacement of said plate |5| by means of inclined cam-slots |541, through which pass camming' studs |56 depending from the bottom of the stoprack |29, said camming studs |55 also serving to retain the plate |5| adjacent the bottom of said rack. Thus theexcess restoring movement of the carriage-structure causes forward edgewise displacement of the plate 5|, as indicated. in Figure 9, and thereby, any carriage-stop ||4 that was set rearwardly will be restored. Upon the advance of the carriage-structure from its overthrown position to the first escapement-tooth 21, a spring |51 restores the 'plate |5| to its normal Figure 4 position relatively to the control bar |21 and the row of carriage-stops ||4.

'I'he tab |54 of the plate |5| may also be utilized during the excess carriage-restoring movement to insure the leftward restoration of the control bar |21 'and the row of stops I4, and for this purpose the left side of said tab 54 may abut a downwardly-bent ear |58 of the control bar |21, said ear also serving to attach the spring |35.

As shown in Figure 4, the edges 95'I of the zeros'top-setting thrust bars 95 are normally spaced somewhat forwardly of the faces4 |01 of the zerostops 24, and similarly, the tongues ||3 of said bars 95 are normally spaced somewhat forwardly of the shoulders 5 of the carriage-stops |4. It will also be seen in Figure 1 that the rear end of the escapement-rack-displacing finger |20 normally lies somewhat forwardly of the front of the flange |24 of said rack at the beginning of the return, rack-displacing stroke of the operated zero-key 84. It follows, therefore, that, by the time the escapement-rack 21 has been displaced far enough for releasing the carriage-structure, the zero-stop-setting thrust bars 95 and their tongues l I3 will have restored suiliciently to clear, respectively, the zero-stops 24 and the carriagestop shoulders ||5, so as not to impede the movement of the released carriage-structure.

'I'he operation of the invention will be understood from the foregoing descriptionof details of the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the invention, and the operation may also be summarized as follows:

It is assumed that all the parts of the machine have been brought to their normal positions, Figures 4, 5 and '7, preparatory to indexing an amount, such as 750000, for example. The 7 and 5" digit-keys l5 are successively operated to index the rst two significant digits of said amount. It will be understood that, according to the usual operation of a ten-key machine, the first two dig'- its 'I and 5 will be indexed, respectively in the rst and second columns from the left ofthe nest or field of digit-stops 24, and, accordingly, at each operation of a digit-key I5, the carriagestructure 25, 46 will advance a single step under control of the escapement-rack 21, so that when -the 5 digit-key is operated, the extension rod 40 of the denomination bar of lowest order will register with and lie beneath the second column from (the left of the nest or field of digit-stops, as seen in Figure 1.

When the 5" digit-key has been operated the step by step advancev of the carriage will have positioned the set of zero-stop-setting thrust bars 95 with the left end portions of their zero-stopsetting edges 95' opposite the third column of digit-stops 24, the column of stop-setting rods 20 also then pointing to said third column of stops.

Since said amount 750000 has a succession of four final zeros, Athe 0000 key 84 is now operated to index at one key-stroke Said nal'zeros. The corresponding zero-stop-setting thrust bar 95 is thereby projected rearwardly during the down stroke of said 0000 key 84, as shown in Figure i, and is operative according to the length of its edge 95, to simultaneously set a zero-stop 24 in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth columns of the nest or field of stops. Also during the down stroke of said key 84 the sixth carriage-stop |4 from the left end of the row of such stops is set rearwardly by the tongue H3 of the rearwardlyprojected thrust bar 95. At the end of said down stroke of the operated key 84, the thrust-finger |20 will have been moved forwardly by the universal lever H8 driven by the rearwardly-projected thrust bar 95, and the rear end of said nger |20 will have been drawn off the fiange |24 and have fallen in front of the flange of the escapement-rack 2'1, as shown in Figure l.

Uponrelease of the depressed multiple-zero key 84, the spring 92, acting through the bellcrank lever 90, returns the key to its normal position and also retracts the rearwardly-projected Zerostop-setting thrust bar 95, and at the same time, the spring |23, acting through the escapementdisabling lever ||8, moves the thrust-nnger |20 rearwardly, to displace the escapement-rack 21 for releasing the carriage-structure 25, 46 to the action of the spring 30. By the time the escapement-rack 21 has been displaced far enough to release the carriage-structure, the zero-stop-setting thrust bar 95 will have moved sufficiently forwardly in its retractive movement, to clear the zero-stops 24 and the row of carriage-stops ||4.

As soon as the carriage-structure becomes released, it advances rightwardly under the pull of its spring 30 until it contacts with the rearwardlyprojected carriage-stop |l4. The released carriage-structure in striking the rearwardly-projected stop ||4 moves the latter, together with the control bar |21 on which the stops ||4 are mounted, rightwardly until the left hand stop |34 of the control bar |2C| strikes the side-member |3| to arrest the. rightward advance of the carriage-structure, as indicated in Figure 8.

Thetongues ||3 of the several Zero-stop-setting thrust bars 95 lie respectively at such distances from the lug I6 on the carriage-structure, with which said bars 95 advance in the ordinary step-by-step feeding advance of the carriage, that operation of a multiple-zero key 84 at any position of theA carriage-structure sets a stop ||4 suciently spaced from `said lug ||6 to predetermine an extent of carriage-advance according to the number of zeros represented by the oper- 'ated zero-key 84. Thus, the 0000 key operated for the four nal zeros of said amount 750000 will set that stop ||4 which is the fourth one to the right of the lug ||6, as indicated in Figure 1, to thereby predetermine a carriage-advance equivalent to four ordinary steps.` The advance of the carriage-structure eiiected by the operation of the 0000 key for indexing said amount 750000 will bring the first six columns of nest or field of stops 24, 24 into register with the six denominational bars 38 at the right.

4As indicated in Figure 8, the rightward displacement of the control bar |21 will have disengaged the latch |4| from its stop |43 to thereby permit the intermediate lever |39, under the pull of the spring |40, to shift the Sundstrand cycletripping link 59- forwardly for initiating a machine-cycle. During said machine-cycle,` the last six denomination-bars 38 will rise to different positions in accordance with the indexed amount, the other bars being held down by means of the stop-plate |25, since said other bars have not, during the advance of the carriagestructure, passed from under said stop-plate |25.

'About the end of the iirst half of the cycle, the intermediate lever |39 will have been restored by the arm 12, to thereby release the clutch-pin 63 for terminating the cycle. During Near t 46 reaches the end of its restoring movement, which, as indicated in Figures 9 and l0, due to the excess movement imparted, retractsit to a point somewhat past the normal position determined by the first escapement-tooth 21a. During the excess movement, the carriage stop-restoring plate |5| becomes operative to return the rearwardly-projected carriage-stop ||4. The escapement-rack 21 is also restored to operative position during said excess movement, as shown in Figure l0. The restoring movement of the carriage-structure is terminated by the disconnection of the push-rod 11 from the stud 18 of the carriage-restoring link 19, whereupon the carriage advances under the pull of its spring 30 until arrested by the first escapement-tooth 21a. In this advance movement, the carriage stoprestoring plate |5| reassumes its normal position under the pull of its spring |51; and the thrust finger |20 reassumes its normal position upon the top of the escapement-rack flange |24. The cycle of operations is now completed and the machine is ready for indexing and registering another amount, it being noted that the return of the carriage-structure has permitted the spring |35 to return the control bar |21 and stops ||4 rightwardly and bring the releasing hook |45 of said bar |21 back into cycle-tripping position.-

It will be seen now that for indexing and listing the illustrative amount 750000, only three key-operations were necessary, according to the invention, whereas, heretofore, seven key-operations were required, namely, one operation of a digit-key I5 for each of the six digit places of the amount, and then the operation of the usual cycling key 51.

As indicated in Figures 1 and 4, thekeyboard plate 81 may rest on spaced upright plates |62. The right-hand one of said plates |62 may carry studs |63 for supporting the angle-bar 88, in which the lower ends of the multiple-zero keystems are guided, it being noted that said angle-bar 88 also has pivot-studs |64 (Figs. 1 and 1), for the bell crank levers 90 of the trains operated by the multiple-zero key-stems 85. Said plates |62 may rise from the plate 99, which rests upon a base |65 of the machine. The machine has the usual casing |66 (Fig. 4) which also frames the keyboard-plate 81, formed as indicated to include the file of Zero-keys 84.

Variations may be restored to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used Without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a ten-key adding machine, the combination of a key-operated mechanism for indexing an amount digit by digit, mechanism which may be tripped for cycling the machine subsequently to the indexing, a plurality of special keys selectively operable for indexing one or more iinal zeros of an amount at one key-stroke, and means called into play by operation of any one of said special zero-keys to automatically trip said lastmentioned mechanism to cycle the machine.

2. The combination of columns of digit-stops for a setof reciprocatory denomination-members, each column including a zero-stop, key-operated means including a step-by-step feeding carriage for'indexing said stops, including the zero-stops, column by column, a plurality of multiple-zero keys representing different pluralities of successive zeros in an amount, and a member connected to each multiple-zero 'key and operable by the latter at a single stroke to simultaneously set in adjacent columns a plurality of zero-stops corresponding to the plurality of zeros represented by said key, said members being arranged to collectively move with said carriage, whereby, in any position of the latter for indexing a column of stops, the operation of a multiple-zero key at said column sets the zerostop in said column and also sets a zero-stop in one or more succeeding columns depending on the plurality of zeros represented by the operated key.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a power-drive tripable for cycling the machine, and digit-keys and a. carriage co-operative with said keys for indexing an amount digit by digit preparatory to the cycling, said carriage advancing a step after each keyoperation, of a special key operable for stepping the carriage at a ilnal zero of an amount, and means conditioned by operation of said special key to co-operate with said carriage and thereby enable the latter in its ensuing step'A to trip said power-drive to cycle the machine.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with digit-keys, a co-operating step-by-step feeding carriage for indexing an amount digit by digit, and a power-drive tripable to cycle the machine afterthe indexing, said carriage advancing to different iinal positions dependent upon the number of digits in the amount indexed,v of a special key operative for effecting the nal carriage-step, and means actuated by said carriage as an incident to a nal step -of movement under the influence of said special key to trip said power-drive irrespective of the position assumed by said carriage at the conclusion of said nal step.

5. The combination of digit-keys, a springdriven carriage, an escapement-member normally restraining the carriage and operable by said ,keys to enable the carriage to advance. step by step from a starting position for indexing an amount, a special key, a carriage-stop settable to effective position by operation of the special key, and means whereby said special key operation casts oli the escapement-member to a detented position for a nal jump of the carriage to the set carriage-stop, said means being arranged so that the return of the carriage to starting position restores the cast-off escapement-member to effective position.

6. The combination of amount-indexing digitkeys, a spring-driven carriage, an escapementrack, a dog normally engaging a ,rack-tooth for restraining the carriage, an element operable by any digit-key to co-operate with the rack and dog for effecting a step-by-step feed oi the carriage, a special key, a carriage-stop settable to effective position by the down stroke of said special key, and a member brought from ineffective to effective position by the down si of the special key, so as to d' s by the return straf-:e

riage makes a final jump to the set carriage-stop,

said dog and rack being kept disengaged by said member'after the return stroke of said special key, said member being arranged to become restored to its ineffective position by the return of the carriage to starting position, whereby said rack and dog become re-engaged.

'7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an amount-indexing means including a carriage advancing to different nal positions depending upon the number of digits in the indexed amount, a power-drive for cycling the machine, a member displaceable to trip said power-drive, a special key operable for jumping the. carriage to a nal position, and a train whereby the carriage at the end of the jump elected by said special vkey displaces said member to trip the power-drive for a cycle, the return of the carriage being timed to occur during the concluding part of the cycle, said train being arranged to permit restoration of the displaced tripping member during the cycle before the carriage is returned, whereby repetition of the cycle is prevented.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an amount-indexing means including a carriage advancing to different nal positions depending upon the number of digits in the indexed amount, a power-drive for cycling the machine, a member displaceable to trip said power-drive, a special key operable for jumping the carriage to a final position, a train whereby the carriage at the end of the jump effected by said special key displaces said member to trip the power-drive for a cycle, during which the carriage is ordinarily returned, and a repeat-key mechanism settable to prevent return of the carriage during a cycle, said train being arranged to permit restoration of the displaced tripping member during the cycle independently of the return o f the carriage, whereby repetition of the cycle is prevented when the repeat-key is set.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a set of denomination-members, co1- umns of. settable digit-stops therefor, including zero-stops, a power-drive tripable for cycling the denomination-members, a single set of digitkey-operated stop-Setters, a carriage co-operating with said stop-Setters, to enable the latter to set the digit-stops column by column and to effect a relative shift of the denomination-members and digit-stop columns, a plurality of keyoperated special stop-Setters selectively operable and arranged relatively to the zero-stops for simultaneously setting one or more zero-stops, that is, one zero-stop in the column corresponding to the carriage-position and, additionally, one or more zero-stops in succeeding columns, means whereby the carriage is ensuingly caused to be advanced in correspondence with the number of columns in which a zero-stop is set by operation of a special stop-setter, and means whereby the power-drive is automatically caused to be tripped when the carriage has been advanced by operation of a special stop-setter.

l0. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a keyboard; a. field of stops;i

an appropriate one of which carriage stops is set into the path of the carriage by the key-actuated member; and an escapement-tripping mechanism operable by the key-actuated member to free the carriage for uncontrolled advance to contact the set carriage stops. Y

11. The combinationwithnumeral keys; springdriven carriage; a field of stops past which the carriage travels; and an escapement-member normally restraining the carriage, and operable by the keys to enable the carriage to advance step by step; of a special key adapted to set a stop to effective position; a normal idle disabling device for the escapement member, and controlled by the special key to disable the escapement member and retain it in such position; and means to restore the carriage to its home position, and to enable the escapement-disabling device to return to its idle position.

12. A zero indexing mechanism for motor driv en machines of the class described, including a motor and clutch; trip mechanism to condition the motor clutch for operation; a traveling carriage; an escapement, including a carriage feed means and a rack to advance the carriage stepby-step; normally idle means to disconnect the rack and traveling carriage to free the carriage from the control of the escapement; stops to variously arrest the carriage when freed from its escapement; indexing stops; and a key to set an indexing stop, and an appropriate carriage stop, and condition the means for disconnecting the rack and carriage; to enable the carriage to actuate the motor-clutch tripping mechanism.

13. In a motor-driven machine of the class described, the combination with a clutch normally disconnecting the motor and the machine;

` a eld of indexing stops; key-controlled means the group of carriage stops and having a limited movement; means releasably connecting the shiftable support and the latch to enable impact of the carriage against a carriage stop to move the shiftable support to release the latch and free the clutch-tripping means for operation; and means to restore the clutch-tripping means to latched position irrespective of the position of the shiftable support.

14. In a motor-driven calculating machine, the combination with a clutch to connect the motor and the machine, clutch-control means normally tending to hold the clutch ineffective; keys; a iield of key-set indexing stops; a traveling carriage; an escapement therefor; and means controlled by a key to disable the escapement; of a group of key-controlled carriage stops shiftable transversely of the path of the carriage to arrest the latter when the escapement is disabled, and also shiftable in line with the path of the carriage; a second clutch control means superior to the first-named clutch control means, to overcome such first-named means and render the clutch effective; latching means under control of the projected carriage stop to retain the superior clutch control means ineffective; the carriage by its impactl against the projected carriage stop effective to shift the carriage stop bodily in the plane of travel of the carriage to disable the latching means and release the superior clutch-control means to enable it to engage the clutch for operation; and motor-driven means to restore the superior clutch control means to latched position irrespective of the position of the carriage stop- 4controlled latch-disabling means, to enable the operation of the first-named clutch control.

15. In a motor-driven calculating machine. the combination with a clutch to connect the motor and the machine, clutch-control means normally tending to hold the clutch ineffective; keys; a field of key-set indexing stops; a traveling carriage; an escapement therefor; and means controlled by a key to disable the escapement; of a group of key-controlled carriage stops shiftable transversely of the path of the carriage to arrest the latter when the escapement is disabled, and also shiftable in line with the path of the carriage; a second clutch control means superior to the first-named clutch control means, to overcome such first-named means and render the clutch effective; latching means under control of the projected carriage stop to retain the superior clutch control means ineffective; the carriage by its impact against the projected carriage stop effective to shift the carriage stop bodily in the plane of travel of the carriage to disable the latching means and release the superior clutch-control means to enable it to free the clutch for operation; means to return the carriage; and means effective upon the return of the carriage to re-establish the control of the carriage stops over the latching means.

LAWRENCE E. LENTZ. 

